How to stay in Ocean City, MD with an ocean view on
a Motel 6 budget

by Karl Kittler

We took a weekend trip to DE originally staying in a hotel in Millsboro. Saturday
we woke up and decided to leave the hotel for somewhere else, got a refund on
the next night and left. After stopping at many hotels that don't know how to
turn on the 'NO' on the 'NO VACANCY' sign, we decided we'd just go home after
we were done. I was ok with this, as we would probably walk away from this with
$60 in my pocket.

We spent the day in Ocean City MD. I had noticed that the temp gauge was running
a little cooler than normal (about 11:00 if the gauge were the hour hand on
a clock, 11:50 being normal). I didn't think much of this, because a few weeks
prior I had replaced the key switch on the column, removing the gauge cluster
in the process and figured the connection was loose, or maybe the ocean air
lets the car run cooler. I wonder does anybody else justify minor fluctuations
like this? As we drove the temp gauge moved down to 10:30. I stalled the car
at a traffic light. When I turned the key again, it didn't turn over, making
the whimpering sound of the little starter that couldn't. So I got out, my girlfriend
Tammy got in the drivers seat and we proceeded to push the car into the do not
enter of a CVS drive-through pharmacy. Almost immediately, we got a jump from
a really nice guy and his girlfriend in a Jeep Liberty. Thank you to the kindness
of strangers, whomever you may be. After disconnecting the cables, Tammy stalled
the engine, out of habit, turned the key and it started. I assumed there was
a dead spot on the starter and as long as we hit that spot again we'd make it
home ok. If not, get a jump again. We parked the car, spending the rest of the
day on the boardwalk.

"Oh Nelly-Bell, why'd you have to do this"--"Who's Nelly-Bell?"
At about 10:15 p.m. we left for home. About a mile or two into DE, OC is ends
at the MD/DE line, the headlights got very dim and the air bag light started
blinking a code three. We pulled over, I now knew that the alternator died.
The battery light never went on, and I assume that the alternator was probably
ill for some time .A month prior, the temp would drop when the A/C was on. I
tried to nurse the battery back by running the engine at 5,000 RPMs but no dice.
Shortly there after, the engine dropped a thousand RPMs in time with the four-ways
blinking. We weren't going anywhere. I shut off the engine got out and waited
for more kindness from strangers. Tammy said "Oh, Nelly-Bell! why'd you
have to do this?" I asked, "Who's Nelly-Bell?" assuming that
she or I was jinxed, hexed, cursed, etc. by some spirit in her past. She explained
that her mother had a car named Nelly-Bell. Tammy has now christened my "Maverik",
"Nelly-Bell". A park ranger came by and offered to call a tow-truck.
I told him that I only had $53, he said that wouldn't cover a tow, but offered
to take us back to OC and we could catch a bus for $1 each all night. I planned
to call a friend in the morning. He dropped us off at 141st St and continued
his way home.

So we're in OC, we have no transportation, hardly any money, we don't know
anyone and it's 11:30 p.m. It looked a little desperate to Tammy, she said "I
feel like we're homeless". I was looking at this in a positive light. She
hates that about me. "We're not homeless, we have a home, we have money
for food and in a few more hours, we can call Dawn" a friend and co-worker
who has a vacation home about an hour away. After an hour or so, Tammy started
seeing the adventure in this too, even if she wasn't as upbeat as I. We got
a bus ticket and went the 130 blocks down to the boardwalk. The people on the
bus are entertaining. "Pass this bus, he's too slow!", yells one to
the driver. They cheer when the other bus makes a stop and ours finally passes
him. If they get too rowdy, a cop gets on at the next stop or two. The bars
are open until 2:30, there's plenty of places that never close. The boardwalk
is occupied by tourists, many are quite amusing, because the bars are open.
Police patrol the boardwalk and other areas quite regularly so it's relatively
safe. Restrooms are open on the boardwalk until 2:30 and after that the WaWa
on 113th st is open. I have other suggestions on this subject, email
me if you want to know more. The boardwalk and the rest of the city are
pretty active until 4:15 or so. There's several soda/water machines every block
or so at about $1 a bottle. And should you need a break, take a load off at
one of the hundreds of benches every 25 feet on the boardwalk.

At 6:00 a.m. unfortunately, it started to rain. Near 2nd st there's lots of
overhangs to keep you dry if you should need it, or hit a restaurant and have
breakfast. I didn't have Dawn's cell number so I called work to get it, the
receptionist didn't have it because Dawn officially retired two weeks prior.
We got another bust ticket at 7:00 ($2 a head, ride till the next day at 6 a.m.)
and headed out to get the miata.

We got off at the first beach access in the DE state park, the Miata was within
sight and asked the very nice middle aged woman at the booth for assistance,
as suggested by the bus-driver. She not only offered a jump, but her rain coat,
while I hooked up my cables and to follow us to the auto parts store (4 mi)to
be sure we made it. Her license plate read APRFOOL, which I found ironic but
encouraging. We got to the auto parts store to find the guy couldn't get an
alternator until Tues, and didn't have a battery to fit the Miata like it should.
I bought a cheap battery, without the core exchange, for $43, plugged it in
and we were on our way home. The store is on DE Rt 26, Bethany Auto Parts. I
had to buy a wrench from him once before. The battery lasted the entire four
hour ride, wipers no headlights, I put it on a charger so that I could go to
work the next day before getting a new alternator.

Honestly, I could do this again. I really did have a good time, maybe even
better than the daytime, during the time when we were stranded. The hotels on
the boardwalk can go for $500 a night and seemed to be booked every weekend
three months a year. If I were to take another trip with this in mind, I'd probably
sleep out on the beach from 6 a.m. till maybe 12:00. Bringing lots of sun block.
Sleeping on the beach is prohibited from 10 p.m. till 6 while they groom the
beaches. At 12:00 go for a swim or surf in the afternoon and just enjoy myself
the rest of the time. Like I said, the night life is pretty good down there.
When we go back, we're definitely hitting more clubs and bars. The only showers
are at the 9th st bath house in OC to get the salt off and are shut off at dusk.
Unfortunately there's no where to change out of your bathing suit, it's prohibited
but people change in the bath houses anyway. I'd probably attempt do do this
under the pier near 1st street too, because the bathhouses get very sandy and
wet. You can also go to DE beaches park, do beach stuff and change there for
$5 all day, good at all DE parks for the day. Or I've found when quickly going
from work to a casual thing, like a basketball game, you can easily change in
miata with relative privacy, top up, for the more daring, top down. Ladies,
can put the top half on under your shirt after you get out. Parking is easy
on 15th st west of Philadelphia St or 19th west. You'll have to walk three blocks
to the boardwalk. With food, you could probably get by on $40 a day for a couple.
This isn't something I'd do with the family. This probably could work for any
beach front resort type place.

Now on to changing the alternator:

(Editor's Note: This article was written for the NA MX-5 Miata. NA has
a v-belt, NB has a serpentine belt. The NB replacement requires removal of the
intake plenum support bracket as the bolt comes out from the rear. The NA bolt
comes out from the front.)

(Notefrom Brian Huang: . I have a 1993 miata with a 1997 1.8
motor (still NA). My lower alternator bolt pulls out from the back as mentioned
for the NB. So it may seem this removal of the intake support applies to NA's
also. As an educated guess, since the 94-97 NA miata share very similar engine
design to the NB being 1.8, it's possible the alternator bolt removal from the
front only applies to 90-93 1.6 engines.)

Replacing the alternator is a simple job that requires hand tools and beginner
level mechanical ability. Will take 30-45 mins. While the car can be driven
for several hours without the alternator, the belt also runs the water pump,
so you'll need to get the part before hand. I got mine used from New Cumberland
Auto Parts for $53 w/tax. Advance Auto wants $168 +tax and core for remanufactured

Notes:
If any of your belts are more than 3-4 years old or are glazed, now is a good
time to replace them. Recheck the tension after a month or 1,000 miles if replacing.

First disconnect the battery. Otherwise you'll do some impromptu arc welding
and burn up who knows what.
Then remove the plastic air intake by loosening the hose clamps on the throttle
body and mass air sensor and one 14 mm bolt between the throttle body and engine
block. Disconnect the vacuum line on the drivers side and the wire clamp on
the passengers' side. This should pull off pretty easily. A black seal with
hose clamp can remain on the throttle body.
Loosen the lower bolt. This goes through to the back and is held on with a nut.
Mine was missing, so I don't know the size. I'd guess 14 because mazda likes
10 and 14 mm.1 turn should be enough for now.
Loosen the tensioning bolt (long 12 mm perpendicular to the alternator shaft),
about 1/2 -3/4 inch, do not remove it.
Remove the upper bolt (lock bolt) that connects the tensioning bolt to the alternator.
The air ratchet is very good here because you can only move about 1/10th of
a turn with a regular ratchet. The tensioning bolt will come off with it.
Push the alternator in a clockwise motion to loosen the belt and slip it off
the pulley.
Remove the lower bolt. Hold onto the alternator when you pull out the bolt from
the front.
With all three bolts removed, rotate the alternator parallel to the crank shaft
about 1/2 turn, disconnect the alternator plug (grayish color, two wires) and
positive connection (single 10 gauge white wire). The positive connection may
be under a two piece black dust cover.
The alternator slips out the top passenger side between the throttle body and
the radiator.
To re-install, reverse.